Hand luggage



Jan. 22, I935. G,-|-|, WHEARY 1,988,530

HAND LUGGAGE Filed May 11, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 5902 Henry M55517" :3, Q. v 7 d%m Jan. 22, 1 935. 1- wHEARY I I 1,988,530

HAND LUGGAGE File d'May 11, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. H. WHEARY HAND LUGGAGE Jan. 22,1935.

Filed May 11, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 22, 1935.

G. H. WHEARY 1,988,530

HAND LUGGAGE Fil d y 1 1954 6.Sheets-Sheet 4 "ml m 6mm Emmy-hwy WW Jan. 22, 1935. G. H. WHEARY 1,988,530

HAND LUGGAGE Filed y 11, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 22, 1935. e. H. WHEARY HAND LUGGAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 11, 1934 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 1 9 3 530.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND LUGGAGE George Henry Wheary, Racine, Wis., assignor to Wheary Trunk Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 11, 1934, Serial No. 725,065 12 Claims. 01. 190-41) This invention relates to new and useful im- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand lugprovements in hand luggage, and has as an object gage carrier embodying this invention, and to provide an inexpensive, light carrier capable of particularly designed to carry a man's suit, said carrying garments neately folded to preclude view showing the carrier in its closed position;

5, wrinkling. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carrier More specifically it is an object of this invenshown in Figure 1 in its open position; 3

tion to provide a hand luggage carrier in the Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ladies type form of an enclosing envelope composed of two luggage carrier in open position; i complementary side members hingedly con- Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure nected along one edge and provided with a con- 1,,but illustratingra slightly modified embodiment i0 tinuous interlocking fastening means along its of the invention; remaining edges, and having a garment support- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the carrier ing structure disposed therein to support the shown in Figure 4 in open position and illusgarments in neatly folded arrangement. trating the manner in which a mans suit is 15... Another'object of this invention is to provide a packed therein;

hand luggage carrier of the character described, Figure 6 is a detail perspective view-illustrating wherein the garment supporting structure inthe shirt pocket or receptacle'of the carrier shown cludes a supporting bar over which the garments in Figures 4 and 5; to be carried are draped to hang at opposite sides Figure 7 is a perspective view showing another v go of the supporting structure where they are held modification of the invention; by the sides of the enclosing envelope, and in Figure 8 is a detail section view taken through which handle means are provided to carry the Figure '7 on the plane of the line 8-8; v luggage with the garment supporting bar upper- Figure 9 is a view in elevation of a modified form most. of garment support; and 2;. Another object of this invention is to utilize the Figure 10 is a perspective view of the carrier garment supporting member over which garshown in Figure 1, but with the garment support ments to be carried the draped, as a rigid backq pp with m o hold t lower e ds of t e ing or filler for the enclosing envelope which is a ments in place. preferably formed of leather, fabric or other Referring now more p t cu a y to the comsimilar flexible material. panying drawings in which like numerals in- 30 Another object of this invention is to provide dicate ik p rt thro h ut th v ral vi ws, an inexpensive garment carrier and enclosing nd pa c a y 3 Figures 1 and the numeral envelope therefor, which may be used to tr n 5 designates the enclosing envelope of the carrier port garments, or as a protection for garm nt forming the subject matter of this invention and hung away in a closet. which consists of two side members 6 and '1 formed Another object of this invention is to provide a f a si le l n th of l ath r, a i or any other luggage case of the character described in which suitable material, 01 Co s st of tW S pa ate the garment supporting member has a drawer p s connected along the bottom d e 3 0f the mounted therein in such a manner as to permit op I Y 40 the same to be pulled out without disturbing the While the enclosing envelope is shown as 40 garments supported thereon. formed of flexible material, it is readily apparent With the above and other objects in view which that a stiff leather, fiber board, or other rigid will appear as the description proceeds, this inmaterial may be employed. In such instances,

vention resides in the novel construction, comthe sides 6 and '7 would be connected by 9- hinge bination and arrangement of parts substantially a m the bottom edge of the envelope- 45 as hereinafter described and more particularly The side and top edges of the envelope are defined by the appended claims, it being underreadily detachably connected by continuous instood that such changes in the precise emboditerlocking fastening means 9, there being prefment of the hereindisclosed invention may be erably two sets of such fastening means, each made as come within the scope of the claims. extending along one side edge and across half the 50 The accompanying drawings illustrate several top edge. complete examples of the physical embodiment of At a medial point, the side member 6 has a the invention constructed according to the best flap 10 at its top edge to fold down over the ends modes so far devised for the practical applicaof the interlocking fastening means and be contion of the principles thereof, and in which: nected to the other side member 7 by means of 55 a snap fastener 11. Handles 12, secured to the side members 6 and '7, provide means for carrying the envelope.

. Disposed within theenvelope is a garment supporting member in the form of a flat stiff board 13. While not necessary, one edge of the board 13 is preferably hingedly connected by a flap 14 to the envelope adjacent its bottom edge 8 and the opposite edge of the board has an enlarged rounded molding 15 to provide a garment supporting draped.

A garment hanger 16 of conventional construction cooperates with the bar 15 to hold the garments in neat arrangement. The hanger is .Figure 2, the suit is straightened and neatly arranged over the board 13 allowing the lower end thereof to hang down over the edge or bar 15. The board is then lifted to a raised position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, whereupon the suit drapes down over the opposite side of the board. Then, with-the garment properly and neatly arranged on both sides of the board, the two sides 6 and? of the envelope are brought up over the sides of the garment and the interlocking fastening means closed.

In Figure 3, the adaptation of this invention to a ladies garment carrier is illustrated. In its major elements, this embodiment of the invention is the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2. An enclosing envelope of fabric, leather, or other similar material composed of sides 6' and l is provided, as well as a flat stiff garment supporting board 13.

Aside from the difference in fittings necessitated by the adaptation of the carrier to ladies use, the distinction between the structure shown in Figure 3 and that of Figures 1 and 2, is that the side members 6 and 7 comprising the enclosing envelope are permanently connected along the upper edge of the envelope when the same is closed rather than along the bottom edge. The carrying handle, in this instance, is fastened to the closed edge portion 8', and the supporting board. 13' is hingedly connected to the outer edge of the side member 7' as at 14'.

Being intended primarily to carry ladies gar- This embodiment of the invention also provides for the carrying of other articles of clothing, such as stockings and the like, and for this purpose, there is a pocket 22 formed on the inner surface of the side member 6', the pocket being closed by a continuous interlocking fastening means 23.

Figures 4, and 6 illustrate the type of carrier shown in Figure 3 arranged to carry a man's suit. In this embodiment-of. the invention, as in the ladies carrier shown in Figure 3, the garment supporting board 13', which is identical in all respects to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, is hingedly connected as at 14' to the outer edge portion of the side member 7'.

The hanger supports 18 are long enough to accommodate a second hanger 16' which, to PIE! clude the disposition of the shoulder portions of two suits directly above each other, has an elongated preferably flexible strap 24 connecting its T shaped head 17 .with the hanger proper.

The side member '6' of the enclosing member has a shirt pocket or receptacle 25, which is closed on three sides by a continuous interlocking fastening means 26. The three open sides of the pocket preferably have flaps 2'7 to fold down over the articles placed therein, as shown in Figure 6, before the pocket is closed to afford added protection and preclude the possibility of having the garments catch in the interlocking fastening means.

In Figures 7 and 8, the garment supporting board is made hollow to provide a chamber 27 for the reception of a shallow drawer 28, which pulls out from the side of the board as illustrated to permit access to the contents thereof without disturbing garments arranged on the supporting board. 1

The supporting board in each of the embodiments illustrated with the exception of that shown in Figures '1 and 8, is a solid rectangular structure formed of wood or other suitable material either covered with cloth of neatly finished to afiord an attractive appearance, and in each instance, the supporting board is large enough to extend beyond the sides and beneath the lower ends of the garments draped thereover.

In all cases though, the supporting board is smaller than the side members comprising the envelope, so that the envelope extends beyond all edges of the board. Consequently, the envelope is readily expansible in thickness to adjust itself to the contents of the carrier.

Itis, of course, possible to skeletonize the board to further reduce the weight of the carrier and in Figure 9, a board so formed is illustrated. Consequently, where the specification and claims refer to a supporting board or equivalent language is used, the term is not to be construed as limited to a rectangularly shaped board or even to a board at all, as for the purposes of the invention, a frame-like metal structure could be used in place of a wooden board.

In each instance, the supporting board or member supports the garments in a neatly folded arrangement and the sides of the enclosing envelope serve to hold the garments against the opposite sides of the supporting board against derangement,

Also in each instance, the handles are so located that the garments, when the carrier is in its normal carrying position, hang down on opposite sides of the board draped over the supporting bar 15, which may be a separate molding as shown, or merely the edge of the board.

To hold the lower ends of the garments in place and facilitate closing the envelope, the S12}- porting board may be providedwith a flap 30 fold down over the lower ends of the garments as shown in Figure 10. 'I'hisflap is preferably a piece of fabric secured tothe hinged edge of the board and provided with a strap or cross bar 31 at the opposite edge, the ends of which are readily detachably connected with the board as a 32. a

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that this invention affords a convenient and exceptionally light carrier for men's suits and ladies dresses and other garments, and that while primarily intended for travelling use, it also provides a protecting envelope in which garments seldom used, may be hung away and protected against dust and moths.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Hand luggage comprising a rigid support having a garment supporting bar over which garments to be carried may be draped to hang on opposite sides of said support, said support being of a size to extend beyond the sides and beneath the lower ends of garments draped over its garment supporting bar, a flexible enclosin envelope for the support and the garments draped thereon devoid of any stifiening means other than Y said support and comprising two sidemembers in the form of sheets of flexible material slightly larger than the support and connected along at least one edge, interlocking fastening means along the remaining edges of the side members to connect the same along said edges, and a handle for carrying the luggage with the garment supporting bar uppermost.

2. Hand luggage comprising, a flat stifl board, one edge of which provides a garment support over which garments to be carriedmay be draped to hang on opposite sides of the board, said board being of a size to extend beyond the sides and beneath the lower ends of the garments draped over its said edge, a flexible enclosing envelope for the board and the garments draped thereon comprising two side members in the form of sheets i of flexible material slightly larger than the board and connected along at least one edge, closure means to connect the side members along their other edges, and a handle to carry the luggage with the garment supporting edge of the board uppermost.

3. Hand luggage comprising a flat stiff board one edge of which afiords a garment support, over which garments to be carried may be draped to hang on opposite sides of the board, a garment hanger over which the garments to be carried are folded preparatory to being draped over. the board, means to mount said garment hanger at a point remote from the garment supporting edge of the board, said board being of a size to' extend beyond the sides and beneath the lower ends of garments draped over its support'hig edge, a flexible enclosing envelope for the board and the garments draped thereover comprising twocomplementary side members in the form of flexible sheets, each slightly larger than the board and permanently connected along at least .one edge, closure means to connect the other edges of the side members, and a handle to carry the to being applied to said supporting member, means to mount said hanger at a point remote from the garment supporting bar to facilitate the arrangement of garments on the supporting member; said supporting member being of a size to extend beyond the sides and beneath the bottom of garments draped over its bar, and a flexible enclosing envelope for the supporting member comprising two complementary side members in the form of sheets of flexible material each slightly larger than the supportingmember and connected to each other along one edge, and closure means to readily detachably connect the side members along their other edges.

5. Hand luggage of the character described, comprising a substantially flat enclosing envelope consisting of two complementary side members formed of flexible material andpermanently connected along at least one edge, interlocking fastening means extending along the other edges of the side members for quickly detachably connecting the same, and garment sup-'- porting means within the enclosing envelope comprising a flat rigid support smaller than the side members and having a garment supporting bar at one edge over which garments to be carried are draped to hang on opposite sides of said flat rigid support where they are held by the side members, means to hingedly connect the opposite edge of the flat rigid support to the envelope and a handle to carry the luggage with said garment supporting bar uppermost and the hinged connection between the flat rigid support of' the envelope lowermost.

6. Hand luggage of the character described, comprising a relatively flat flexible enclosing envelope, consisting of two complementary side members in the form of sheets of flexible ma.- terial permanently and hingedly connected along at least one edge, interlocking fastening means extending along the other edges oi the side members for quickly detachably connecting the same, a stiif garment supporting board smaller than the side members, means to hingedly connect one edge of the garment supporting board to the enclosing envelope near one edge of the envelope when closed so that it forms a rigid and stiff support for the envelope, means on said garment supporting board to hold said garments in neatly folded arrangement draped over another edge of the board to hang on opposite sides of the board where they are held by the side members, and a handle to carry the luggage with said second designated edge of the board over which the garments are draped uppermost.

'7. Hand luggage of the character described, comprising a substantially flat flexible enclosing envelope consisting of two complementary side members'in the form of sheets terial connected along at least one edge, interlocking fastening means extending along the other edges of the side members to close the envelope along said edges, and-garment supporting means within the enclosing envelope comprising a. rigid supporting member of such size that the side members extend beyond the edges of the supporting member to enable expansion of the thickness of the envelope as necessitated by the contents thereof, means hingedly connecting the supporting member to the enclosing envelope so that said supporting member proof flexible mato be held against displacement by the side mem-. bers of the enclosing envelope. V

8. Hand luggage of the character-described,

drawer mounted in the garment supporting means and arranged to pull out from the side of the supporting means so asgarments on the supporting means.

9. Hand luggage ofjthe-character described comprising, a flat flexible enclosing envelope consisting of two complementary side members in the form of sheets of flexible materialconnected along at least one edge, interlocking fastening means extending along the other edges of the side members to close the envelope along said edges, garmentsupporting means within the enclosing envelope comprising, a fiat rigid support having a garment supporting bar at one edge over which garments to be-carried are draped to hang on opposite sides 01 said flat rigid support, a garment hanger over which the garments to be carried are draped preparatory to being en gaged on saidsupport, means to readily detachably mount the garment hanger on one side of the flat rigid supportat a distance from the supporting bar, and means on the other side of the flat rigid support to hold the adjacent ends of 'the garments against said support, and means to hingedly connect the edge of the fiat rigid support opposite the supporting bar to the enclosing envelope.

10. Hand-lug age of the character describedcomprising, a flat enclosing envelope consisting of two complementary sidemembers connected along at least one edge, interlocking fastening means extending alongthe other edges of the side not to disturb members to close the envelope along said edges,

and garment supporting means within said enclosing envelope comprising a flat board smaller than the side members and having a garment supporting bar at one edge over which garments to be carried are draped to hang on opposite sides of said board, and a flap connected to the board to overlie the ends of the garments-on one side thereof and hold the same in place.

11. Hand luggage of the character described comprising, a flat flexible enclosing envelope consisting ottwocomplementary side members in the form of sheets of flexible material connected along one edge, interlocking fastening means extending along the other edges of said side mem-- ,bers to close the envelope along said edges, a flat stifi board smaller than the side members and having a garment supporting bar at its upper edge over which garments to be carried may be draped to hang on opposite sides of said board, and means to hingedly connect the lower edge of the flat stifi board-to the envelope so that the flatstiif board is permanently attached to the envelope and affords a still support therefor.

12. Hand luggage of the character described comprising, a flat flexible enclosing envelope consisting of two complementary side members connected along their bottom edges, interlocking fastening means extending along the other edges of the side membersto close the envelope along said edges, and garment supporting means within said enc'losing envelope comprising a flat stifi board having a garment supporting bar at one edge over which garments to be carried may be draped to hang on opposite sides of said board,

said board being of a size to extend beyond the sides and beneath the lower edges of the garments draped thereon, and being smaller than the side members, a permanent hinged connection between the edge of the board opposite its garment supporting bar and the lower closed edge portion of the enclosing envelope whereby the board is permanently connected with the enclosing envelope in a position at which its garment supporting bar is located adjacent the upper edge of the envelope, and handle means at the upper edge portion of the envelope.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY. 

